SARASOTA, Fla. - The door remained open for Mike Wright Jr. to claim the fifth starter's job. It seemed to widen with disappointing outings last night from Miguel Castro and Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. A solid showing today against the Red Sox might have decided the outcome.
Wright retired the side in order in the first inning on only 11 pitches, but he threw 30 in the second while allowing four runs and four hits and walking a batter. Chris Vázquez homered, and Iván De Jesús Jr....
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reduced their camp roster to 38 players today by optioning reliever Jimmy Yacabonis to Triple-A Norfolk.
The cuts will come in waves, according to manager Buck Showalter, who meets with each individual.
Yacabonis made eight appearances and allowed three runs and eight hits in eight innings. He walked five batters and struck out seven.
Showalter intended to meet with his starting pitchers before announcing the opening day starter, news that should arrive on Friday....
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis is leading off for today's game against the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. It airs on MASN.
The Orioles' lineup also includes Anthony Santander batting ninth as the designated hitter. Chance Sisco is behind the plate.
Colby Rasmus is in right field and batting sixth.
Relievers listed behind starter Mike Wright Jr. are Mychal Givens, Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo and left-hander Joely Rodriguez.
Alex Cobb will wear No. 17.
For the Orioles Chris Davis 1BManny Machado...
SARASOTA, Fla. - His new assignment as an analyst on Orioles broadcasts on 105.7 The Fan won't be the only reason for former second baseman Brian Roberts to come back to Camden Yards over the summer.
Roberts has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame and will inducted prior to the Aug. 11 game against the Red Sox.
The 50th overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft out of the University of South Carolina, Roberts spent 13 seasons with the Orioles and batted .278/.349/.412 with 351 doubles, 35...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Because Alex Cobb won't be able to break camp with the Orioles, his signing this week doesn't do much to clear up the pitching picture as opening day approaches.
A fifth starter is needed, same as before. It wasn't going to be José Mesa Jr., designated for assignment yesterday, and Hunter Harvey was more of a temptation than a realistic consideration.
Does Cobb actually increase the chances of Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. making the club and staying with it?
The Orioles...
TAMPA - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will wait until Thursday morning to make his next round of cuts. The roster currently holds 39 players.
Miguel Castro's struggles continued tonight with five runs (four earned) and five hits allowed over three innings. He also walked three batters and threw 66 pitches, 38 for strikes, in a 9-4 loss to the Yankees.
"I felt well despite the results," Castro said via translator Ramón Alarcón. "I thought I was trying to make good pitches. Some...
TAMPA - Alex Cobb worked out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex today and eventually will be throwing at extended spring training and with a minor league affiliate. The Orioles intend to carry 12 pitchers on opening day, including five starters, but Cobb will have to stay back.
"Roger (McDowell) and I are going to sit down with him," said manager Buck Showalter. "He had a pretty whirlwind day today. Roger talked to him a little bit. But we're going to sit down with him tomorrow and map out the...
TAMPA - While Alex Cobb was busy getting to know his new Orioles teammates today and mapping out a plan with manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell following an extremely late arrival in camp, he could lock into a familiar face in the row of lockers set up for infielders and outfielders.
At the far left end sits third baseman Tim Beckham, who also came to the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays. They were together at Tropicana Field since 2013. No need for introductions.
"Oh,...
TAMPA - Adam Jones only knew about Alex Cobb from the opposite dugout, the batter's box, the usual chatter that exists in pregame and among friends. He politely asked the media today to wait until he met Cobb before commenting on his new teammate.
"I've only see him in battle between the lines," Jones said afterward. "We haven't said too many words while we were playing against each other. Nice, firm handshake, solid hug, very manly, very teammate-esque."
So far, it's a solid scouting...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb has met his new teammates and the media and fulfilled all of his interview obligations. He's ready to focus on pitching again, whenever he's able to debut for the Orioles after signing his four-year, $57 million contract.
Cobb is expected to stay back at extended spring training and report to a minor league affiliate to build up his innings. There's no timetable set for his return to a major league rotation.
Here's a sampling of Cobb from his first session with...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles optioned pitcher Hunter Harvey to Double-A Bowie this afternoon and will start Miguel Castro in tonight's game against the Yankees in Tampa. Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. will follow him to the mound.
Harvey allowed three earned runs (four total) and nine hits over seven innings in his three starts in the Grapefruit League. He walked four batters and struck out seven.
Tanner Scott and Jimmy Yacabonis also are listed among the relievers tonight.
Tim Beckham is...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb has passed his physical, according to a source, and is the latest free agent pitcher to join the Orioles rotation with less than a week remaining before they break camp.
Cobb agreed to terms yesterday on a four-year, $57 million contract, the largest given by the Orioles to a free agent pitcher. It exceeds the $50 million deal for Ubaldo Jiménez in 2014.
A better return is anticipated and sorely needed.
The Orioles haven't announced Cobb's signing, but it's done...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles played the waiting game again in free agency and are close to scoring with the biggest piece remaining on the free agent market.
Right-hander Alex Cobb is nearing an agreement with the Orioles, according to a source, and would become the third starter signed by the club since opening camp. Confirmation could come later tonight.
Cobb, 30, spent all six of his major league seasons with the Rays and compiled a 48-35 record, 3.50 ERA and 1.217 WHIP in 115 starts. In a...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' deal with pitcher Alex Cobb should be made official later today after he passes his physical.
The club has zero concerns about the physical, so let's not break out the tired observation that everyone fails it. And if we are going down that road, tell me again how they were wrong about Grant Balfour.
I've been told that $56 million for Cobb is "almost on the nose" over four years, the largest contract in club history for a free agent pitcher. There is deferred...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles and Rays won't play baseball tonight at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
The game has been cancelled due to rain and a tornado watch in the area. There's no makeup date in the Grapefruit League.
Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. and Miguel Castro were supposed to pitch tonight, but instead will make the trip to Tampa for Wednesday night's game against the Yankees and work in relief behind starter Hunter Harvey.
Fans holding paid tickets for tonight's game purchased...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis said he received about 12 plate appearances yesterday at the minor league camp and a nasty bruise on his right shin after being drilled by a pitch from Tampa Bay's Chih-Wei Hu.
Davis had the shin wrapped today and said he might wear a protective guard on it, but it won't prevent him from staying in the lineup.
With extra motivation to run against Hu, Davis eventually scored a run and could joke about it later.
Davis was able to lead off in several innings while...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis built up his spring at-bats yesterday at Twin Lakes Park, where the spectators included executive vice president Dan Duquette, and he should remain in the lineup for tonight's game against the Rays in Sarasota.
MASN is carrying it live, so pull up a sofa and enjoy baseball under the lights.
The forecast is calling for rain, of course, because the Orioles are playing at home and we're nearing the start of the regular season.
Left-hander Nestor...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The absence of Mark Trumbo on opening day due to a strained quadriceps muscle could provide regular at-bats for Anthony Santander in the designated hitter role. He also could get some starts in the outfield as manager Buck Showalter maneuvers players and takes advantage of his roster flexibility.
No one is debating whether Santander makes the club and can stay for the first 44 days to shed his Rule 5 status. Santander is a lock. He's done everything necessary to earn the trust...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't provided an explanation for Danny Valencia's removal from today's lineup. Manager Buck Showalter will update the media in Lakeland.
Valencia was in the clubhouse this morning. He hit a two-run homer yesterday and is 6-for-29 (.207) with three doubles, two home runs and six RBIs in 11 games after signing a minor league deal on March 2.
Gabriel Ynoa no longer is wearing a protective boot after being diagnosed with shin splints, but the Orioles are expected...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' projected regulars are staying back today as the team travels to Lakeland to play the Tigers.
Austin Hays is in right field and batting third and Pedro Ãlvarez is playing first base and batting fourth. Danny Valencia is starting at third base and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. Chance Sisco is catching.
The list of reserves includes Mike Yastrzemski, Cedric Mullins, Erick Salcedo, Andrew Susac and Jomar Reyes.
The bullpen includes Josh Edgin, Joely...